Couch-bed.



- No. sa|,|a7. 1 Patented Aug. 27, team.

w. s. some.

COUCH BED.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1590.) (no Model.) zshem-shm n4: NORRISPETERS co, wuo oumou WASNINO'YOK. o, c

. To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATESTPATENT ,WILLIAM S. nowin, OF BOSTON,1VIASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE T. HORAN, OF SAME PLACE.

COUCH-BED.

sr ncrnroa'rroiv forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,187, datedAugust 27, 190i. Application filed October 29, 1900. Serial No. 34,776.(No model.) i

Beit known that I, WILLIAM S. BOWIE, of Bostoii, countyof Suffolk, Stateof Massa- 3 chusetts, have invented an Improvement in 1 Couch-Beds, ofwhich the following descripj tion, inconnection with the accompanyingdrawings, isaspecification, like letters on the 1 drawingsrepresentinglike parts. a This invention relates to couch-beds, and hasfor. its object toimprove and simplify the r construction of the same inmany particulars.

In accordance with this invention a middle section and two extensibleside sections are provided, which when extended produce a full-width bedand when closed up produce a couch.

The middle section of the bed is composed,

essentially, of a pair of longitudinal upright metallic frames bearingsprings, said frames 3 being r gidly secured together and each havingsultable legs or supports, and a springsupporting frame located betweenand con- The extensible side sections are made substantially alike, andeach consists of a pair of upright spring-bearing frames disposed inparallelism with the middle section, and the inner upright frame of eachpair is loosely X connected with the middle section and the outerupright frame of each pair is loosely connected with the inner uprightframe, so

that the frames of each side section will be 1 loosely connectedtogether and loosely con- ;nected to the middle section, and the outerupright frame of each pair is provided with suitablelegs orsupports. Theuprightframes of the side sections areadapted to be moved outward inparallelism with the middle section when it is desired to convert thecouch into albed.

Foot and head pieces will be provided on the middle section, the formerbeing rigidly secured thereto and the latter being pivotally connectedthereto.

Means are provided for insuring the proper working of the frames of theside sections andtheir. relative position to each other.

Means are also provided for holding the side edges of the mattress downwhen the apparatus is closed up as a couch.

Figure 1. shows in plan view a couch-bed embodying this invention, oneof the exten- .sible side sections being extended and the other beingclosed up. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the couch-bed shown inFig. 1, taken on the dotted line 2 2, showing in side elevation themiddle section and the rigidlyconnected footpiece and pivoted headpiece.Fig.3 is a side elevation of the outer upright spring-bearing side frameof one of the side sec1i0ns. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the innerupright spring-bearing side frame of one of the side sections. Fig. 5 isa vertical section of the middle section of the couch-bed, taken on thedotted line 5 5, Fig. 2, showing particularly. the pivoted headpiece.Fig. 6 is an end view of the middle section of the couch-bed, showingparticularly the rigidlyconnected footpiece. Fig. 7 is a detail showingthe pivoted headpiece occupying .a horizontal position. Fig. 8 is an endview of the couch-bed closed up as a couch and having a mattressthereon.

The middle section consists, essentially, of two metallic uprightframes, (see Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6,) comprisinga top cord or bar a and abottom cord or bar a, both made of angleiron and disposed in parallelismand rigidly connected together by end posts C62, also made ofangle-iron, and by upright braces a The end posts a are extended belowthe bottom cord at for a short distance to serve as legs. These twoupright frames are rigidly connected together by a number of cross'barsa a a a connecting the top cords a, and by a number of cross-bars a 609a a connecting the bottom cords a. The middle sec- 0 tion when thusconstructed will present in itself a rigid structure andwill have fourlegs, each of which may, and preferably will be, provided with a caster.To the foot of the middle section a footpiece 5 is rigidly connected,which is herein shown as a loop-like strap I), (see Fig. 6,) the ends ofwhich are attached to a horizontal bar 19, of angle-iron, secured to theends of the top cords a of the upright frames of said middle 10osection, and diagonal bars b areattached to the cross-bar a and to theupper part of said loop-like strap. The top cords aaof the uprightframes are extended beyond the bottom cords thereof, so that the foot ofthe middle section bearing the footpiece may project beyond the base.

On top of each upright frame of the middle section a row of springs. care secured, so that said upright frames serve not only as cooperativeparts of the framework of the middle section, but also as supports forthe springs. Between said upright frames aspring-supporting frameisprovided for supportinganumber of additional springs, and, as hereinshown, said spring-supporting frame consists of a longitudinal bar d,secured to the several crossbars a a a albeing supported by saidcrossbars, which form a cooperative part of said spring-supportingframe, as well as connecting-bars for rigidly connecting the two uprightframes together. On said longitudinal bar d a row of springs 61 aresecured, properly disposed relatively to thesprings 0.

At the head of the middle section a pivoted headpiece is provided whichis adapted to 00-' cupy two essential positions-viz. an inclined and ahorizontal positionthe former position being intended for use when theapparatus is used as a couch and the latter position being intended foruse when the apparatus is used as a bed. The pivoted headpiece consists,essentially, of a pair of parallel side bars e e, connected together bycross-bars 6' e and the forward ends of said bars 6 e are pivotallyconnected at e to the top cords a of the upright spring-bearing framesof the middle section. Each one of the side bars 6 c has a notch e inits under side, and a prop is provided which, as herein shown, consistsof a horizontal cross-bar 6 attached at its ends to a pair of arms apivoted at e to the upright posts a The prop is adapted to engagethe-notches e of the side bars e when holding the headpiece elevated andto disengage the same to permitsaid headpiece to be moved intohorizontal position. A chain 6 connects the-cross-bar c with a chain c,which is connected to thetop of two of the springs g on the barf, andsaid cross-bar is thereby held in elevated position and in continuousengagement with the side bars 8 e. A chain e connects said cross-bar ewith the end cross-bar e and by pulling upon this chain by hand thecross-bar e will be removed from engagement with the side bars. The sidepieces 6 e are made of angle-iron, and one side of each piece is cutaway for a short distance at its forward end to permit them to be turnedup on their pivots, and when the headpiece is moved into horizontalposition the said pieces e 6 will rest upon the ends of the top cords aof the upright frames of the middle section. The loop-like strapf (seeFig. 5) is attached at its ends to the cross-bar e which may be made ofany suitable shape and size, which serves as an upright end piece on theheadpiece. A longitudinal bar f extends lengthwise the pivotedheadpiece, one end of which is attached to the cross-bar e and the otherend to the upper part of the loop-like strap, said bar being bent at apoint intermediate its length for attachment to the cross-bar e Springs9 are mounted on top of the side bars 6 e, and springs g are mounted ontop of the longitudinal barf.

At each side of the rigid spring-bearing middle section an extensibleside section is provided, adapted to support a number of springs whichwhen extended converts the apparatus into a full-width bed and whenclosed up converts the apparatus into a couch. The two extensible sidesections are made alike or substantially so, and each consists of a pairof longitudinal upright frames loosely connected together and to themiddle section The inner upright side frame, (see 'Fig. 4,) which isdisposed next to the middle section, consists, essentially, of a topcord 71. and a bottom cord h, and for rigidly securing said top andbottom cords together an upright brace 72 is provided between them, or anumber of such braces may be provided, and also one end of the bottomcord h is turned up, as at 71 and connected with the top cord. A row ofsprings 72, are provided on top of the top cord h. This uprightlongitudinal frame is therefore essentially a spring-bearing frame.

The outer upright side frame consists, essentially, of a top cord 11 anda bottom cord 11 and end posts 1' rigidly connecting the ends of saidtop and bottom cords together, and upright braces 13, any number ofwhich may be provided. The end posts 2' are made long enough to projectbelow the bottom cord 'i for a short distance to form legs. Thus it willbe seen that each extensible side section frame thus supports the outeror side row of' springs,and means are provided for stiffening said-rowof springs, which, as herein shown,

consists of a flat strip n,of metal,passing along the tops of saidsprings, which is turned down at both ends and attached to the top cord11 of the upright frame, and another strip n, of metahpassing alongthrough said springs just beneath the uppermost convolution thereof,which is attached at its ends to the strip at.

The inner upright spring-bearing side frame is loosely connected withthe middle section by links 0, there being a pair of such links at eachend of the side frame, the upper link of each pair connecting the topcord 71. with the top cord at and the lower link of each pair connectingthe bottom cord h with the bottom cord a. The outer uprightspring-bearing side frame is' loosely connected with the inner sideframe in a similar manner, there being two pairs of links 0 provided,one at each end of said outer side frame, yet the links 0' of each pairare connected together or formed integral with each other, therebypresenting a loop having a vertical or upright central portion, providedat each end with a horizontal arm, said arms serving as the iin ks. Thelinks are connected to the inner up right side frames by the same pivotswhich connect the links 0 with said side frames, and as. a result thevertical central portion is adapted to strike the links 0 to limit theout by limit the outward movement of the extensible side section.

It is intended that the side sections shall be manipulated by hand,being drawn out or pushed in, as occasion requires, and it will bejseenthat as they are thus operated they will move in parallelism with themiddle sec- 1 tion, to which they'are loosely connected. In i ordertoinsure proper working of said side frames and maintain their relativepositions,

a guide-bar j is provided for each side seetion, which is looselyconnected at one end to the middle sectionas, for instance, to thebottom cord thereofand isloosely connected t at the opposite end to thebottom cord of the outer side frame, and said guide-bar also serves tostiffen and strengthen the bed. To further insure the proper working ofthe side sections, a flat bar 76 is attached at one end to the top cordof the outer side frame. Said bar is made long enough to overlie the topcord of the inner side frame and also overlie the-top cord of oneof theupright frames of the middle section when the side sections are drawnout. it ;The side frames of the side sections are made substantially aslong as the full length of. the middle section and headpiece pivotedthereto, so that When extended a full-length 1 bed will be provided.

To securely hold the edge of the mattress turned down over the edge ofthe couch, a M locking device is provided, which, as herein shown,consists of a rod or bar If, having its I opposite ends upturned, as att, and pivotally connected to the frameas, for instance, i to thedownturned end portions of the strip 'nand straps t are attached to saidrod or bar t, which are provided at their ends with hooks i which engagethe bottom cord t" of the side frame. A bail-shaped locking deyicehaving straps for holdingit down is thus M provided.

I claim-- 1 1. In a couch-bed, the combination of a middle sectioncomprising rigidly:connected longitudinal upright frames bearing springsand having legs or supports, and a pair of longii tudinal upright sideframes disposed at each side of said middle section and looselyc0nnected thereto, the frames of each pair being loosely connectedtogether and the outside frame of each pair having legs or supports,

substantially as described.

2., In a couch-bed, the combination of a middle section comprisingrigidly-connected longitudinal upright frames bearing springs and havinglegs or supports, a spring-supportin g Ward movement of the outer frame,and there a frame located between said upright frames and rigidlysecured thereto, and a pair of longitudinal upright spring-bearing sideframes disposed at each side of said middle section and looselyconnected thereto, the frames of each pair being loosely connectedtogether,

and the outside frame of each pair having legs or supports,substantially as described.

3. In a couch-bed, the combination of a mid dle section comprisinglongitudinal upright frames bearing springs and having legs or supports,cross-bars connecting said frames together, a longitudinalspring-supporting bar secured to said cross-bars between said uprightframes, and a pair of longitudinal upright side frames bearing springslocated at each side of said middle section and loosely connected tosaid middle section, the frames of each pair being loosely connectedtogether and the outside frame of each pair having legs or supports,substantially as de scribed.

4. In a couch-bed, the combination of a middle section comprising twolongitudinal upright frames each composed of a top cord, a bottom cord,and upright end pieces which extend below the bottom cord and form legs,a row of springs secured to the top cord of each frame, aspring-supporting framelocated between said upright frames and rigidlysecured thereto, and a pair of longitudinalupright spring-bearing sideframes located at each side of said middle section and loosely connectedthereto, the frames of each pair being loosely connected together,substantially as described.

5. In a couch-bed, the combination ofa middle section comprisinglongitudinal upright spring-bearing frames rigidly connected together, as prin g-supporting frame located be tween said upright frames andrigidly secured thereto, and a pair of longitudinal uprightspring-bearing side frames located at each side of said middle sectionand loosely connected thereto, the frames of each pair being looselyconnected together, each spring-bearing side frame comprising a top cordand a bottom cord rigidly connected together, and springs secured to andprojecting from said top cord, substantially as described.

6. In a couch-bed, the combination of a middle section comprisinglongitudinal upright spring-bearing frames rigidly connected to gether,a spring-supportin g frame located between said upright frames andrigidly connected thereto, and a pair of longitudinal uprightspring-bearing side frames located at each side of said middle sectionand loosely connected thereto, the frames of each pair being looselyconnected together,each springbearing side frame comprising a top cordand a bottom cord rigidly connected together,

springs secured to and projecting upwardlyfrom said top cord, theoutermost side frame of each pair having upright end pieces which extendbelow the bottom cord and form legs, substantially as described.

7. In a couch-bed, the combination of a middle section comprisinga pairof longitudinal a bottom cord and upright braces joining said cords, arow of springs secured to the top cord of each upright frame, aspring-supporting frame located between said upright frames and rigidlysecured thereto, head and foot pieces connected to the ends of saidupright frames, and upright side frames at each side of said middlesection loosely connected together and also loosely connected to saidmiddle section and springs borne by them, substantially as described.

8. In a couch-bed, a middle section comprising longitudinal uprightspring-bearing frames rigidly secured together, a pair of longitudinalupright spring-bearing side frames located at each side of and looselyconnected to said-middle section, and a guide-bar at each side of saidmiddle section loosely connected at one end to said middle section andat the other end to the outermost side frame, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a couch-bed, a middle section and extensible side sections, and amattress made the full width of the extended bed, and means for holdingdown the sides of said mattress when the apparatus is closed upconsisting of a longitudinal bar upturned at each end and pivotallyconnected to the opposite ends of the side sections, and means forlocking said bar down, substantially as described.

10. In a couch-bed, a middle section, and extensible side sections, atopposite sides thereof, each having a bottom cord, a mattress made thefull width of the extended bed, and a bail-shaped locking device at eachside of the bed, pivoted to the side sections having straps attached toit provided with hooks which engage the bottom cord of the side section,substantially as described.

11. In a couch-bed, a middle section and extensible side sections, atopposite sides thereof, each havinga bottom cord and a mattress made thefull width of the extended bed,

and means at each side of the bed for holdingdown the sides of saidmattress when the apparatus is closed up consisting of a longitudinalbar upturned at each end and pivotally connected to the opposite ends ofthe side section and straps attached to said bar having hooks at theirends adapted to engage one of the cords oflthe side section to lock saidbar down, substantially as described.

12. The main body portion having a pivoted headpiece provided withspiral springs g, g, and with notched side bars, the bailshaped lockingdevice forsaid pivoted headpiece, a connection between said lockingdevice and spiral springs g, g, for holding the locking device inengagement with the notched side bars, and means for disengaging saidlocking device, substantially as described.

13. The main body portion havinga pivoted headpiece provided with spiralsprings g, g, and with notched side bars, the bailshaped locking deviceincluding the crossbar 6 for said pivoted headpiece, a connectionbetween said locking device and spiral springs g, g, for holding thelocking device in engagement with the notched side bars, and a chainconnecting said crossbar c with a cross-bar of the headpiece,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM S. BOWIE.

Witnesses:

B. J NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

